It's good to hear about drugs from a different perspective even if the spirtuality side might not be your cup of tea
Personally, I see great holes in this man's reasoning and perspective. We've always talked to our kids about drugs, and have an open dialogue where we are told what they think and we generally know before hand what they're up to - regardless of the activity. So far that has been fruitful and avoided any consequences to their health. I have no problems saying "don't take that, it's a bad one" and they listen. Why? Because we have talked about drugs openly for years and through our work in HR, they have seen first hand what some drugs can do.
What should be encouraged, is for parents to learn about drugs themselves, and I don't mean from a TV ad or newspaper article. I'm talking about real facts; read the survey results, learn the how drugs are made and the pharmacology - hey people are willing to learn what their medication may do to them, so why not drugs? - and in particular, generate discussion on their kids level, not solely from a "wiseman's" perspective.
The more I read Sauer's writings the less I'm convinced. Using examples from Taoism and recommending studying the laws of energy as applied to taoism, hinduism and the like is not the way to go IMO. This form of spirituality is nothing more than veiled religious doctrine. If the guy was speaking to scholars of eastern philosophy then maybe, but not to western based parents - and that's coming from someone who spent many years studying Taoism and Chinese thought. While his description of how drugs affect the body in relation to chinese medicine is as far as I can tell correct, comparing the two systems; chinese/western medicine is not as easy as he concludes.
Perhaps for some this is a plausible option to treating a drug problem, but in a world where we need to take more of a grasp of the facts of science and rational thought based on scientific findings, I find it to be just more of the same hyped up BS.
To me the concept stinks of capitalistic exploitation shrouded in eastern mysticism. Protection charms and spiritual books need to give way for a more factual based approach. While I hold many of the taoist writings in high regard, there's aspects of the philosophy that I don't agree with. If anyone thinks Taoism can't be interpreted as religion then read "The Jade Emperor's Court" chapter 6 of
"Taoism; The Quest for Immortality" by John Blofeld.
If Taoist principles are to form the basis of such an educational course, then at the very least IMO these workshops should be offered for free and not conducted like a traveling show.
In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired.
In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.
Less and less is done.
Until non-action is achieved.
When nothing is done, nothing is undone.
The world is ruled by letting things take their course.
It cannot be ruled by interfering.
Lao Tzu